Sweet Sunday #7

The cupcakes are finding their way to Vienna... Recently the first cupcakes shop opened in Josefstädter Strasse in the 8th district, offering 20 different flavours. The shop is small, but very appealing and there are also two tables where you can have a cup of coffee, eat your cupcake and observe not only the coming and going of the customers but also the activities in the bakery.

Relax, take it easy

The other day I took advantage of a day off to go to the Hirschstetten Flower Gardens, the cultivation gardens of the Municipal Department which is in charge of the Viennese parks and gardens. It was opened in 1952, extends over 60.000 square meters and houses a rich variety of flowers and plants, presented in a multitude of ways. On the shore of a small lake I found these inviting deck chairs.

Balcony #2

As you already know, I love balconies. I spotted this small, but nevertheless appealing balcony on the house whose facade I showed you yesterday.

Façade detail #4

This scary facade can be found on an apartment building in Mondscheingasse in the 7th district.

Shine on

I stumbled upon this summerly decoration in the window of an optician on Kärntnerstrasse one week ago. It would be really nice if the sun would shine on, yesterday it was cold and the sky was clouded and the weather forecast for today is even worse. Where´s the Indian summer?

Welcome Enzos

Some time ago I told you about the "Enzis", the courtyard furniture of MuseumsQuartier. Last month the new generation of this furniture has arrived, the so called "Enzos". They are now made of polyethylene, so they are more fireproof, more resistant against damage and 100% recyclable. The design changed only in the details, however from now on the colours won´t change every year, but there will be several colours at the same time. The names of the current colours are "Lush Meadow Green", "Ivory Tusk White", "Strawberry Field Red" and "Candy Shop Pink". Yesterday at noon the "Enzos" were occupied as usual by people soaking up the sun, relaxing, chatting with friends...

Back to school

Well, there´s nothing more to say than: today is the first day of the new school year for Viennese kids.

Sweet Sunday #6

Home made chocolate candies at SchokoLadenWerkstatt in the city center (I have mentioned this chocolate shop already here). I haven´t yet tried all flavors, so I think I have to return there pretty soon ;-) Please note the mouse shaped pralines...

I love Vienna

According to the Mercer 2010 Quality of Living Survey, Vienna retains the top spot as the city with the world´s best quality of living. This joyful result prompted the initiative "I love Vienna": a website where everybody can upload a video and declare his love to Vienna, all these videos will be collected and then - hopefully - result in the world´s longest declaration of love. The current footage is 14 hours, 49 minutes and 59 seconds. In case you also want to take part in this inititative, you can do it here.

Say it with flowers

To me these flowers say that automn is just around the corner...

Façade detail #3

I wasn´t aware of how many atlantes can be found on Viennese buildings until lately. In this photo I like also the small balcony. Well, I like balconies in general...

September Theme Day: Open Air Market

Unfortunately I didn´t make it to any open air market during the opening hours, so you have to content yourself with this photo of Naschmarkt, Vienna´s most popular market, last sunday afternoon.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Augarten porcelain

I found this summerly arrangement in the window of the shop of Augarten porcelain on Graben in the city center. Augarten porcelain, founded in 1718, is famous for its delicate and graceful shape, its clean lines and exquisite details. The porcelain is still produced and painted by hand in the manufactory at Augarten Palace in Vienna´s second district.

Ice cream

At the moment it seems like summer is over, all of a sudden the temperature got very autumnal. Please don´t ask me how I feel about it. However, the confectionary Oberlaa in the city center is still promoting its homemade ice cream.

Breaking the rules: Trip to Salzburg #3

Salzburg is dominated by Hohensalzburg Castle, one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. On the left side you can see a part of the baroque Mirabell Palace, where some famous scenes of "The Sound of Music" have been recorded and which nowadays is a popular location for weddings.

Breaking the rules: Trip to Salzburg #2

This photo shows a part of the baroque cathedral (in front of which during the Salzburg Festival the drama "Everyman" by Hugo von Hofmannsthal is performed) and the sculpture "Sphaera" by German artist Stephan Balkenhol.

Breaking the rules: Trip to Salzburg #1

Let me take you on a short trip to Salzburg where I stayed the last weekend. Salzburg is the fourth-largest city in Austria and well known for the Salzburg Festival and for being the native town of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Salzburg´s "Old Town" with its baroque architecture is one of the best preserved city centers north of the Alps and was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Rudolf Bednar Park

As I told you already in a previous post there is a lot of construction activity going on in the second district. An important building site is the former freight station of Nordbahnhof (North Railway Station) where now residential and office buildings as well as a school are being constructed.
This photo shows the Rudolf Bednar Park in the center of the new area and one of the new residential buildings in the background. Rudolf Bednar was a social democratic politician and head of the second district from 1977 to 1984.

Blue sky and modern architecture

This is another view of "Viertel Zwei", a new quarter in the second district (you can find previous posts here and here). On the left side you can see the office building of the Austrian mineral oil authority OMV and on the right side a very modern food stall.

Bags

I saw these bags at "Die Vermischte Warenhandlung", a very nice shop in the city center that I have mentioned already here.

Haas Haus

"Haas Haus" and Graben seen from the spire of St. Stephen´s Cathedral.

Sweet Sunday #5

These candies are sold in a candy store in the city center that I mentioned already here.

Doorway #1

Freyung n° 7 in the city center.

Scooter

I see this scooter every day on my way to work and just love the colour.

Johannes Nepomuk Church

The baroque Johannes Nepomuk Church on Gersthofer Straße in the 18th district built from 1736 to 1737.

Unusual facade

This unusual facade is a part of the apartment building "Hundertwasser-Krawina-Haus" in the 3rd district. Designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000) and built between 1983 and 1986, this unconventional building has no straight lines or surfaces, it is completely asymmetrical with tortuous corridors, rounded-off corners and many plants and trees growing on unusual spots.

Enjoying the evening sun

If you take a good look at this photograph you will see a lady sitting on the bank of the New Danube and enjoying the evening sun. I stumbled upon this scene yesterday while riding my bicycle on Donauinsel and would have loved to be in her place.

Beautiful villa

A beautiful villa on Pötzleinsdorfer Straße in Währing, the 18th district of Vienna, a predominantly residential district in the northwest of the city known for being rather up-market in terms of real estate - no wonder, you can find there a lot of villas like this one.

View of the town #2

That´s the view from Nussberg towards Floridsdorf, the 21st district of Vienna.

Shop windows on Kohlmarkt #6

"Cartier" in Vienna is currently promoting the "Love collection".

Shop windows on Kohlmarkt #5

"Louis Vuitton" arranges the mannequin with wire coils.

Shop windows on Kohlmarkt #4

The "Diesel" flagship store is showing in his window a photograph of the series "Sand People" by young Austrian photographer Andreas Waldschütz.

Shop windows on Kohlmarkt #3

"Chanel" is promoting the Coco Cocoon bags.

Shop windows on Kohlmarkt #2

"Tiffany & Co" is using summer postcards for the shop decoration.

Shop windows on Kohlmarkt #1

Kohlmarkt (Coal Market) is one of the oldest streets in Vienna, once it was inhabited by the Royal court appointed jewellers. Today it´s the home of the most famous brand names in the world... "Tommy Hilfiger" seems to be one of the last shops where sale is still going on.

Think!

That´s a detail of a window of a shoe store in the city center. It´s a pity that I haven´t passed there earlier, I could have used this photo for the August Theme Day (Bright Colours).

Hidden

A family home hiding behind the leaves on a quiet street in the 19th district.

Grapes

Grapes in a vineyard on Kahlenberg.

Vineyard

In Vienna you can find 731 hectares of vineyards, a better part of them is located on Kahlenberg and Nussberg in the 19th district. The 640 Viennese winegrowers are producing 2,5 million liters every year. The most important white wines produced are Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Pinot blanc, Chardonnay, Welschriesling, the red wines are Blauer Zweigelt, Pinot noir, Blauburger, Cabernet Sauvignon and St. Laurent.

Heuriger

In the 19th district (especially in Grinzing, Sievering and Neustift am Walde), you can find a lot of "Heuriger", wine-taverns, where winegrowers serve the most recent year´s wine. A "Heuriger" has legal limitations different of those from a restaurant: Only its own wine and a limited selection of food can be served. Additionally, it can only be open a certain amount of time a year. Usually a couple of conifer or fir twigs hung above the entrance door indicate that guests are welcome.

In Vienna many restaurants have the appearance of a "Heuriger" but have in fact a normal restaurant licence and are selling wine from outside sources and even beer and coffee, which would be unthinkable at an authentical "Heuriger". You can find a calender of the open "Heuriger" here.

Lehár-Schikaneder-Schlössel

The 1737 erected Lehár-Schikaneder-Schlössel is located in the 19th district and housed two famous artists: from 1802 to 1812 Emanuel Schikaneder, the librettist of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart´s opera "The Magic Flute", and from 1932 to 1944 Franz Lehár, composer of operettas. In the former parlour on the first floor autographs, paintings, photographs and memorabilia are exibited. As the building is privately owned visits are possible only on prior appointment.

View of the town #1

That´s one view of the town from Kahlenberg which is - as I mentioned already here - a very popular destination for an excursion within the city limit.
This week I will show you some pictures of the northwestern outskirts of Vienna. Stay tuned!

August Theme Day: Bright Colours

Sour fruit drops seen in a candy store in Wollzeile in the city center.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Basiliskenhaus

The Basiliskenhaus is home of a well-known Viennese myth: On 26 June 1212 in the morning, the servant of a baker discovered a basilisk at the bottom of the well in the courtyard. After a lot of agitation and anxiety a wise man was consulted and advised to hold a mirror to the basilisk which was known to be fatal. No sooner said than done and the basilisk exploded because of the reflection of his ugliness. In 1577 this tale was inscribed on the facade of Basiliskenhaus.

Die vermischte Warenhandlung

If you need a gift with a certain je ne sais quoi, this shop in Weihburggasse in the city center, hidden in a beautiful courtyard, is the perfect place.

Hotel Sacher

Hotel Sacher is a 5-star deluxe hotel in the city center. It was established in 1876 by Eduard Sacher, son of the creator of the famous Sacher Torte. Throughout its existence, the hotel has been a popular meeting point for the aristocracy, politicians, business people and artists. Its guest book has been signed by celebrites such as Queen Elisabeth II, John F. Kennedy, the Prince of Monaco and his wife Gracia Patricia, Leonard Bernstein or Herbert von Karajan.

Pink Flowers

After realizing that in the last two posts the colour pink is predominant, I chose - true to the motto that all good things come in threes - this photo of some pink flowers seen some time ago in a flower shop in the city center.

Playground Sale

Sale is still going on, even at Swarovski on Kärntnerstrasse. In one of the shop windows there are changing installations in collaboration with artists and designers. The current installation, realized by Gerda Buxbaum, the former head of the Schloss Hetzendorf Fashion School, is called "Playground-Sale". The photo shows only a part of the installation.

ImPulsTanz Bicycles

Some days ago I presented to you the International Dance Festival ImPulsTanz that´s currently taking place in Vienna. Yesterday I stumbled upon these ImPulsTanz bicycles near my place and found out that the festival participants can rent such a bike for € 6,- a day. I love the colours of the bicycles! How about you?